Bowie signs petition against tribute band

David Bowie objects to misleading name for Marc Bolan homage act

David Bowie is among stars who have signed a petition against a T-Rex tribute group marketing itself as the '70s band.

The impersonating band have called themselves T-Rex, with the subtitle A Celebration of Marc and Mickey, after original T-Rex stars Marc Bolan and Mickey Finn.

And now a petition to halt the band has been signed by 500 people including former T-Rex drummer Bill Legend, David Bowie, and T-Rex producer Tony Visconti, who worked with Bolan on T-Rex's classic '70s albums.

Visconti says: "For a bunch of old guys to go around calling themselves T-Rex is outrageous. The only link they have to the original is through one member, Paul Fenton, a second drummer with T-Rex for a short period of time.

"This sets a dangerous precedent. What's next? When Paul MCCartney dies, will a group emerge calling themselves The Beatles?"

The band nevertheless insist they created their act in a bid to honour Bolan and Finn's original band. Manager Barry Newby says, "Mickey wanted the band to continue after his death and also have T-Rex mentioned somewhere in the title.

"This band was created to perform Bolan's great songs. We never had any intention to upset anyone. We perform, in our opinion, the most dynamic T-Rex show in the world."

With the band's Myspace page currently under an address change, it looks like they may have been forced to change.